The best place I know for ferret kidney info is the archive for past FHL
posts.  Some of those also will appear in the FML archives as may others,
and that addy is right in the header of every issue of the FML.
 
There is a link to the archive search at the home page:
http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/ferrethealth
 
The direct address is: http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/
 
To read details about the sonic weasel site:
http://www.smartgroups.com/message/readmessage.cfm?gid=1423922&messageid=345
 
Like the FML search engine this is a very easily used search engine with
very clear instructions appearing right next to it.  They differ but each
is well designed with a huge amount of careful work put into the efforts.
Wins!
 
To get the most info besides searching under "kidney" and related words
or word segments like "neph" do also search under "Champ".
 
For insulinoma info go to
http://geocities.com/sukieslist
 
which I need to update and click on the sites written by vets since
most have insulinoma info that is clear and current.
 
There have been a lot of posts on insulinoma recently at the Ferret
Health List; the URL is the first one given in this post.
 
Heidi, use the FML search engine at
http://listserv.cuny.edu/archives/ferret-search.html and search under
"blackheads" and "rat-tail" to find numerous poists on this.
 
Kara, With the fur loss and the pot belly as well as strong smell and
rought fur I think that adrenal neoplasia is strongly indicated, but that
does NOT equate to adrenal "cancer".  While adrenal growths need to come
out most are NOT malignant.  When they are malignant adenocarcinomas that
are caught early enough are cured by surgery.  Lympho is more of a
concern, but if this has been going on a while and you don't see other
symptoms of that then the chances are reduced.  BTW, the only way to
conclusively diagnose that is by biopsy.  Again, most adrenal growths are
BENIGN.  Why do they need to come out?  The chemical compound cascade
that results causes the prostate to swell and that can cause urinary
blockage that can kill or can damage the kidneys.  They can grow into
nearby structures or press upon them.  They can cause life-threatening
anemia as a responnse tot he excess estrogen circulating.  They can cause
discomfort.  They can cause social isolation when they affect behavior.
Unless a ferret is not a surgical candidate they need surgery by a ferret
vet.
 
Secondary infections after ear mites will aso cause stench.  He needs vet
care for these, too.
 
Has everyone seen the July/Aug edition of "Ferrets"?  There is an
excellent article there by vet, Bruce Williams on what is NOT cancer.
(This is also a topic regularly covered here in Golden Oldies because it
is one of the one for which the most confusion exists -- kind of like the
confusion that exists about ADV in level :-) .)  The article is the first
in a series that will cover common growths.
[Posted in FML issue 3858]